WARWICK DAILY NEWS (Australia) 02 January 11 Crocs trapped by new program
A trapping program with extra bite evicted a record number of saltwater crocodiles from Northern Territory waterways in 2010.
A total of 306 salties were caught, well exceeding the previous record of 274 set in 2004.
They included a 4.6-metre whopper harpooned at Shady Camp, east of Darwin, in March.
In December alone, 21 salties were captured, the latest on Thursday.
And more were expected to be snared on Friday, NT wildlife ranger Tom Nichols told AAP.
An extra 20 croc traps laid around the Top End and an expanded management zone in outer, rural Darwin were behind the increase, he added.
A custom-fitted croc hunting boat, with harpoon racks and other specialist gear, has also been in use for the first time.
Mr Nichols said the local saltie population had increased in recent years, but their numbers are now levelling off.
All those captured in 2010 were taken to a government run crocodile farm.
Some of the females were used for breeding. Others were slaughtered.
Of those captured, 204 were removed from Darwin Harbour and 46 were removed from Darwin's outer region.
A total of 23 came from the Katherine region and the remainder from remoter parts of the NT.
Authorities have warned the current wet season could lead to an increased presence of saltwater crocs in all types of waterway.
Crocs trapped by new program